Poinsettia plant named ‘Eda Pan 1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant named ‘Eda Pan 1’, characterized by its bright red bract; green, lighter green and light yellow variegated leaves; compact, uniform and upright plant habit; and excellent post-production longevity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPoinsettia plant, botanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd., andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Eda Pan 1’.

The new Poinsettia is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of theEuphorbia pulcherrima Willd. cultivar Supjisil, not patented. The newPoinsettia was discovered and selected by the Inventor in a controlledenvironment in Blanzac, France. Compared to plants of the parentcultivar, plants of the new Poinsettia are shorter, have smaller flowerbracts and brighter red flower bract color.

Asexual reproduction of the new Poinsettia by terminal cuttings taken atEncinitas, Calif., has shown that the unique features of this newPoinsettia are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Eda Pan 1’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Eda Pan 1’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Bright red bracts.

2. Green, lighter green and light yellow variegated leaves.

3. Compact, uniform and upright plant habit.

4. Excellent post-production longevity.

Plants of the new Poinsettia are similar to plants of the Poinsettiacultivar Peterstar, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,259, in flowerbract color. However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted inEncinitas, Calif., plants of the new Poinsettia differed from plants ofthe cultivar Peterstar in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Poinsettia are more compact, shorter and lessvigorous than plants of the cultivar Peterstar.

2. Plants of the new Poinsettia are not as freely branching as plants ofthe cultivar Peterstar.

3. Plants of the new Poinsettia have fewer and smaller leaves thanplants of the cultivar Peterstar.

4. Leaves of the new Poinsettia are variegated whereas leaves of thecultivar Peterstar are solid green.

5. Plants of the new Poinsettia have smaller inflorescences than plantsof the cultivar Peterstar.

6. Plants of the new Poinsettia have fewer cyathia per inflorescencethan plants of the cultivar Peterstar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanyng colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance ofthe new Poinsettia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Poinsettia. The photograph comprises a top perspectiveview of a typical plant of ‘Eda Pan 1’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Poinsettia has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingobservations and measurements describe plants grown in Encinitas,Calif., under commercial practice in a fiberglass-covered greenhousewith day temperatures about 19 to 31° C., night temperatures about 18 to20° C., and light levels about 4,000 foot-candles. Plants were grown in16.5-cm pots, pinched one time, and flowered under naturally lengtheningnights during the fall.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. cultivar Eda Pan1.

Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Euphorbiapulcherrima Willd. cultivar Supjisil, not patented.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 7 days at 24° C. Winter: About 10days at 22° C.

Time to develop roots.—Summer: About 26 days at 24° C. Winter: About 26days at 22° C.

Rooting habit.—Thick, freely branching.

Plant description:

Plant form.—Inverted triangle, top of plant rounded; mounding.

Growth habit.—Very compact, upright and somewhat spreading. Freelybranching. Branching is enhanced by removing the shoot apex. Low tomoderate vigor.

Plant height.—About 18 cm.

Plant width.—About 30 cm.

Crop time.—From unrooted cuttings to a flowering plant in a 16.5-cmcontainer, about 18 weeks are required.

Stem description.—Number of lateral branches: About 6 lateral branchesdevelop after removal of the terminal apex. Lateral branch length: About12 cm. Internode length: About 7.5 mm. Stem color: 146A to 146B.

Foliage description.—Quantity of leaves per lateral branch: About 6.Length: About 9.5 cm. Width: About 6 cm. Shape: Ovate or tri-lobate.Apex: Acuminate. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth; glabrouswith very slight pubescence on lower surface. Color: Young foliage,upper surface: 146B; surrounded by 147C; margin, 2D. Young foliage,lower surface: 147B; margin, 2D. Mature foliage, upper surface: Center,147B; surrounded by 148C; margin, 2D; occasionally tinge of anthocyaninon uppermost leaves. Mature foliage, lower surface: 147B to 147C;margin, 2D. Venation, upper surface: 47B. Venation, lower surface: 48D.Petiole: Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Color: 47A.

Inflorescence description:

Inflorescence type and habit.—Inflorescences are compound corymbs ofcyathia with colored flower bracts subtending the cyathia.

Natural flowering season.—Autumn/winter in Northern Hemisphere. Flowerinitiation and development can be induced under long night conditions.Early flowering, response time is about 9.5 weeks.

Quantity of inflorescences.—One per lateral branch, usually about 6 perplant.

Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 22 cm. Height (depth): About 3 cm.

Flower bracts.—Quantity of flower bracts per inflorescence: Usuallyabout 9 primary bracts and about 7 smaller secondary bracts perinflorescence. Length, largest bracts: About 13 cm. Width, largestbracts: About 8 cm. Shape: Mostly ovate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Acute.Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth, velvelty. Aspect: Mostly flat,occasionally slightly rugose. Color: Upper surface: 45B. Lower surface:45C; color does not fade.

Cyathia.—Quantity: Usually about 8 per corymb. Diameter of cyathiacluster: About 2 by 2.5 cm. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 6 mm.Color: Immature: 144A to 144B. Mature: 144A.

Peduncle.—Length: About 4 mm. Aspect: Strong, erect. Color: 144B.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Stamen number: Typically about 3 percyathium. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther color:47A. Amount of pollen: Scarce. Pollen color: 8A. Pistils: Not observed.Nectary color: 10A.

Disease resistance: Resistance to pathogens common to Poinsettias hasnot been observed on plants grown under commercial conditions.

Post-production longevity: Generally plants maintain good substance andbract color for about four to six weeks under interior conditions.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant named‘Eda Pan 1’,